Orioles rally to end Mets' streak

By Associated Press | June 17, 2006

Maybe the New York Mets should have stayed on the road.

Welcomed home last night after a 9-1 road trip that pushed them 9 1/2 games in front in the National League East, the Mets managed just four hits and were beaten, 6-3, by the Baltimore Orioles, ending an eight-game winning streak.

Erik Bedard, who had not won in a month, pitched six strong innings to earn the victory and Melvin Mora hit a two-run homer against his ex-team, capping a four-run seventh-inning rally.

Bedard (6-6) used an effective changeup to keep the Mets off balance. ``I was throwing all my pitches, in and out," he said.

Manager Sam Perlozzo was delighted with the lefthander's effort.

``His change was the big pitch for him," the manager said. ``He's showing signs of taking his game to the next level. Hopefully, he'll continue that way."

Bedard pitched hitless ball into the fifth inning but was trailing, 3-2, when he left for a pinch hitter in the decisive seventh. The Mets took the lead in the fifth on a two-out, two-run double by Jose Reyes.

Cuban defector Alay Soler limited Baltimore to four hits over six innings and turned over the 3-2 lead to Aaron Heilman (0-2), who relieved at the start of the seventh.

Heilman got in trouble immediately, walking Kevin Millar and Nick Markakis to start the inning. Pinch hitter Howie Clark bunted the runners to second and third. First baseman Carlos Delgado then bobbled Brian Roberts's grounder but recovered in time to make the putout at first, Millar scoring to tie the game at 3.

Then Brandon Fahey looped a single to left, just beyond the reach of Reyes to score Markakis and put the Orioles in front. Mora followed with his ninth homer of the season for a 6-3 lead.

Marlins 3, Blue Jays 1 -- Scott Olsen won his fourth consecutive start and Dan Uggla hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning to lead Florida over Toronto in Miami.

The Marlins extended their season-high winning streak to six and improved to 4-0 on their current homestand.

Olsen (6-3) allowed one run, six hits, and struck out eight. He also was aided by three double plays.

The Rangers got three runs and five hits off major league ERA leader Brandon Webb (8-2) in the first inning to go ahead to stay. Webb allowed five runs and 10 hits over 5 2/3 innings, pushing his ERA from 2.06 to 2.37 -- still the best in the majors. He struck out six with no walks and threw a season-high 116 pitches (79 strikes).

Devil Rays 10, Phillies 4 -- Julio Lugo homered twice and Damon Hollins had his first four-hit game and drove in three runs to lead visiting Tampa Bay over Philadelphia.

James Shields (3-0) allowed three runs and six hits, striking out six in his fourth major league start. Hollins, who entered in a 1-for-20 slump, fell a triple short of the cycle.

Twins 4, Pirates 2 -- Francisco Liriano (6-1) shook off an early two-run deficit to strike out a career-best 11 and visiting Minnesota rallied for three runs in the seventh against Ian Snell (7-4) to beat Pittsburgh.

Royals 7, Astros 2 -- Scott Elarton (2-8) was perfect for five innings and Reggie Sanders had two RBIs and scored twice as visiting Kansas City won.

Cardinals 8, Rockies 1 -- Jason Marquis (9-4) worked eight sharp innings, helping host St. Louis beat Colorado in the opener of the only non-interleague series of the weekend.